Segments in this Video

Monte Castillo, Spain(00:0-6)

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Art expressed human's deep spiritual longings. These caves once were a sacred space that brought people together. (Credits)

"The Lion Man"(03:00)

Carved in Ivory, this sculpture was discovered in a cave in Germany. Much artwork concerned the death of an individual as societies became agrarian. Greeks gathered at the Acropolis to worship their gods; the Greek god Poseidon jammed his trident into the soil.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia(02:52)

During the spring equinox, the sun rose exactly behind the main temple. The Khmer people built the Hindu Temple in the twelfth century. Apsaras decorate the walls as well as icons and images.

Ajanta Caves, India(04:20)

Begun around 200 BCE, Monasteries and prayer holes are carved into the rock. Sangeeta Abhay drew on the monument for inspiration to make her own religious artwork. Inside the caves, murals depicted incarnations of Buddha and were deliberately obscured.

Ravenna, Italy(03:26)

The artwork at the Church of San Vitale described how Jesus Christ can be a god as well as a man. Christians adopted the mosaic techniques from the Roman Empire.

Ancient Religions Die Out(02:20)

The Christian faith spread during the Middle Ages reducing polytheism. The Old and New Testaments warned against creating graven images. The Islamic faith prohibited recreations of all living things.

Sancaklar Mosque, Turkey(03:34)

Recently completed in 2012, this designed challenged traditional stereotypes of a mosque possessing neither a dome nor minaret. Muhammed first received the revelation of the word of God at the Cave of Hera. The Quran written on walls in building reminded the faithful of the presence of the divine.

Calligraphy(04:52)

The words of the Quran were revealed to Muhammad through the pen. Muslim artists did not sign their artwork because the talent came from God. Ahmed I completed the Blue Mosque, located in Istanbul Turkey.

Bodleian Library, England(03:49)

A scribe completed the Kennicott Bible during the 15th century. During this time period, Muslim, Jewish, and Christian traditions mingled in Spain. Francisco Pradilla y Ortiz captured the fall of the Moorish kingdom in "The Surrender of Granada"; Spain's power and influence grew during the Counter-Reformation.

Colonialism in the New World(02:54)

In Mexico, Spanish conquistadors attempted to eradicate the indigenous people's culture, religion, and traditions. Catholics attempted to incorporate the Day of the Dead into All Saints' Day. The Virgin Mary became a symbol of fertility.

Seville, Spain(04:57)

Pedro Roldan carved "Virgin of Hope of Macarena" in Seville's cathedral. Only nuns are permitted to dress the sculpture. During the Renaissance, artists harnessed the power of religious images.

Delhi, India(04:03)

Hindu artists have created idols from straw and mud for centuries. Religious images decorate trucks, houses, streets, and taxis. A Muslim army erected the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque from destroyed Hindu and Buddhist temples.

Ely Cathedral, England(03:25)

Protestants and Catholics fought for supremacy over England. Victorians restored the cathedral after vandals destroyed it.

Saint Paul's Cathedral, London(04:52)

Bill Viola and Kira Perov created "The Martyrs" and "Mary" which appeared at the cathedral. Kalaam fused calligraphy, graffiti, and photography in "Envol."

God and Art: Episode 3

Description

This episode broaches the controversial and divisive topic of religion and art, from antiquity to the present day. We travel the world’s temples, churches, mosques and ancient and symbolic sites through religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. We look at the void that Christianity filled following the collapse of the Roman Empire and the growing skepticism about the older pagan gods, as we explore the role it played in changing the nature of religious art in the West and Near East. And we look at how modern artists embrace religious themes, searching to find a spiritual art relevant to the modern age.